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Veterans Treatment Court seeks peer mentor volunteers

The Veterans Treatment Court of the Second Judicial District of Wisconsin is looking for volunteer peer mentors to help provide an individualized support system for veterans going through the court.

Peer mentors are intended to be a guiding influence, a shoulder to lean on, and a friend who can relate to the unique experiences gained through military service.

Mentors must:

Be a veteran

Be stable, without current criminal offenses

Be free from drug/alcohol addiction

Undergo mentoring training

Be non-judgmental

Be confidential

Be willing to commit at least a 12-month tour of duty

Be willing to commit to at least two contacts per week

Mentors are asked to reinforce the mentees’ commitment to the court and reinforce military bearing in the courtroom and with the veterans court team. Mentors are asked not to be a counselor, to order participants around, or to contradict the court team’s recommendations and rulings.

The mission of the Veterans Treatment Court is to honor veterans by restoring them to a public life by providing judicial support, treatment and supervision, thereby enhancing public safety.

The court serves the Second Judicial District, which includes Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties.

To be eligible for the court, defendants must be diagnosed with a substance abuse or treatable mental health disorder, have a pending misdemeanor- or felony-level offense and be approved by the district attorney’s office from which the charges originated.

For more information about serving as a mentor, please contact Kenosha County Veterans Benefit Specialist Oscar Rodriguez at 262-605-6690 or Oscar.Rodriguez@kenoshacounty.org.